Apparatus for segregating stacks



plll 20, 1954 C. J. GREINER ET AL APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING sTAcKs OF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A coNTNuousLY FORMING SUPPLY 0E THE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 15, 1950 12 sheets-sheet 1 W NQ o o oww@ NA, .a @.0 L OO April 20, 1954 c. J. GRI-:INER ET Al. 2,675,747

APPARATUS EoR SEGREGATING sTAcKs oF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A CONTINUOUSLY FORMING SUPPLY OF THE MATERIAL 12 Sheets--Sheefl 2 Filed Jan. l5, 1950 April Z0, 1954 C, J, GRI-UNER ET AL 2,675,747

APPARATUS FOR SEGREGTING STACKS OF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A CONTINUOUSLY FORMING SUPPLY OF THE MATERlAL Filed Jan. 13, 1950 l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 *im --n .5@.3 .i

plll 20, 1954 c. J. GREINER ET AL APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING sTAcKs 0E SHEET MATERIAL FROM A coNTINUousLY FORMING SUPPLY 0E THE MATERIAL 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. l5, 1950 C. APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING STACKS OF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A CONTINUOUSLY plil 20, 1954 J. GREINER ETAL FORMING SUPPLY oF THE MATERIAL l2 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 13, 1950 pnl 20, 1954 c. J. GREINER ET AL 2,675,747

APPARATUS FOR SEGRRGATING sTAcKs oF SHEET MATERIAL RRoM A coNTNuousLY FORMTNG SUPPLY oF THR MATERIAL Filed Jan. 13, 1950 l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 A m1 wm. ww AM El T I- I M M .f |l|lf| O O n @mq ,1 A@ o o I m L M m o o m o o .m R, A @s Q A R APrll 20, 1954 c. J. GREINER ET AL 2,575,747

APPARATUS TOR SEGREGATTNG STACKS oF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A CONTTNUOUSLY RORMING SUPPLY oF THE MATERIAL April 20, 1954 c. J. GREINER ET AL 2,575,747

\ APPARATUS PoR SEGREGATING sTAcKs OP SHEET MATERIAL PROM A coNTINUoUsLY PoRMING SUPPLY oR :PRE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 15, 195o l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 April 20, 1954 c. J. GREINER x-:T AL

APPARATUS PoR SEGREGATING STAcKS oF SHEET MATERIAL PROM A coNTTNUoUsLY PORMTNG SUPPLY 0E TRE MATERIAL l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. l5, 1950 Aprll 20, 1954 c. J. GREINER ET AL 2,675,747

APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATVING STACKS OF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A CONTINUOUSLY FORMING SUPPLY OF' THE MATERIAL Filed Jan. l5, 1950 l2 Sheets-Sheet lO ,i NLR L IIIII. .,rr/ ,M 1| @L 5 jm, QN- z NN ,Lv 1% NWN pril 20, 1954 c. J. GREINER ET AL 2,675,747

APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING sTAcKs oF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A coNTINuousLY FORMING SUPPLY OF THE MATERIAL A Filed Jan. 13, 1950 12 Sheets-Shea?l ll Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING STACKS OF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A CONTINU- OUSLY FORMING 'SUPPLY OF THE MATE- RIAL Charles J. Greiner, Menasha, and Reinhardt N.

Sabee, Appleton,

Wis.,

assignors to International `Cellucotton Products Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware 18 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for segregating stacks of sheet material from a continuously forming supply thereof, and in this application, the invention is explained as applied to apparatus for segregating stacks of folded and interfolded tissue paper, such as facial tissue, from a supply of such tissues during the formation of such supply by a high speed continuously operating tissue interfolding machine.

The main objects of the invention are to automatically divide sheet material which is continuously piled into a stack, into separate stacks containing a predetermined number of sheets; to provide apparatus for dividing elongated stacks of articlesl into a pair of shorter stacks; to provide means for turning the stacks so as to present the stacks in predetermined position for discharge from the apparatus; to provide efficient automatic mechanism for producing stacks of tissues ready for packaging in a box or other enclosure; and to provide such mechanism which will operate continuously in cycles so as to accumulate and discharge stacks of tissues from high speed, continuously operating tissue or interfolding mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (13 sheets) wherein there is described and illustrated a typical embodiment of an apparatus for attaining the abovementioned objects.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on a plane approximately represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section approximately on the plane represented by the line 4-4 on Figs. 3 and 11;

Fig. 5 is a plan section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross section on the line 6-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. "I is an illustration of a detail appearing also in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan section on a plane approximately represented by the line 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2 but on a somewhat enlarged scale;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross section on the line I I-I I of Figs. 4 and 10;

Fig. 12 is a plan section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11; v

. and interfolded tissues.

Figs. 13 to 19 inclusive, are more or less diagrammatic illustrations representing various steps in the operation of the mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a more or less diagrammatic illustration of a detail of the operation of a part of the mechanism; and

Figs. 21, 22, 23 and 24 are diagrammatic illustrations representing the preparation of one type of material which is made into stacks ready for packaging, and the general mode of operation of the mechanism according to the present inven- Referring now to the drawings and, first, to Figs. 21, 22 and 23, a pair of interfolding rolls are represented at I and 2 which are driven continuously at high speed and which function to Z-fold and interfold two webs of tissues so as to continuously add to the top of a stack 3 of folded The interfolding rolls I and 2 receive two webs of tissue material such as represented at 4 and 5 in Fig. 22. These webs are slit transversely as indicated at 8 and 1, this slitting being interrupted by only slight bonds which are permitted to remain for the purpose of holding the sheet sections in continuous web form. These bonds are quite weak and are easily broken when desired, kthereby facilitating separation of sections of the respective webs from the supply webs. As indicated in Fig. 22, the slits E in the web 4 are disposed in staggered relation to the slits 'I in the web 5, the slits 6 being located about midway between the slits l. When these sheets are interfolded by the action of the rolls I and 2, the slits I will occur within the folds of the sections of the web 4 and, similarly, the slits 6 will occur within the folds of the sections of the web 5. This relationship is indicated in Fig. 23.

For economical operation and for certainpractical reasons, it is advantageous to fold webs 4 Y slightly imperfect (or predetermined small bonds may be permitted to remain) so that the web portions of opposite sides of the slitting 8 remain very weakly bonded together. The folded tissues discharged from the apparatus represented in Fig. 21, will be in the form of an elongated, double length stack 9 (Fig. 24) which is divided by the -the rolls I and 2.

slitting 8 into two sections which may be broken from each other.

By the apparatus herein disclosed, double length stacks 9 of tissues are accumulated and discharged as rapidly as they are produced by the interfolding mechanism, the stacks being fed laterally and then broken at the transverse severance 8 into separate shorter stacks Ia and Ib, these stacks being turned90 in the'cperation of breaking the stack 9 and then fed endwise as indicated by arrows on said stacks Illa and Ib in Fig. 24. The stacks are fed endwise and delivered by suitable means into pockets or carriers II on a conveyor I2- by which the individual stacks I are propelled sidewise to'anotherA station or, for example, to mechanism for inserting the same into a box.

The mechanism for folding and interfolding a pair of webs of material as represented by Figs; 2l, 22 and 23, may be any suitable interfolding mechanism. One type of such mechanism is shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,468,254, De Loye, April 26, 1949. In'general, suchmechanismcomprises interfolding rolls I and 2 carried by driven shafts- I3 and Ili (Fig. 1) which are suitably journaled in vertically disposed side frames which extend upwardly from a suitable base. Various portions of' the side frames are designated F andvarious-portions of the base are designated B. As `shown in-Fig. l, the mechanism is equipped with pairs of feed rollsfR which draw the webs 4 and 5 into the machine. Slitters S are provided for cooperating with suitable anvil rolls to longitudinally slit the webs as they enter the machine so that the interfolding rolls I andV 2 operate on longitudinally slitted webs.

The details ofthe interfolding mechanismare not a part ofthe present invention and are therefore represented more or less diagrammatically. It is suiiicient for the purposes of this specification to state that these rolls function to interfold continuous longitudinally divided webs in the manner already explained.

Thestack forming and discharging mechanism operates inthe manner illustrated in Figs. 13:'.to; i

19 inclusive. As there shown, it is assumed that the apparatus has been in continuous operation for some time. The two webs 1l` and 5 are represented'inithese figures by a single line W. As

shown in Fig. 13, a stack 9a of lfolded tissue has` been accumulated"v on a plate I5. This plate] is automatically moved vertically downwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. I3 while additional tissue is folded and'deposited on top of the stack 8a, this downward movement beingsuch. as tov maintain the level of the top of the stack of material substantially lconstant with reference to A counting finger. or marker I6 is'moved into overlying relation to the stack 9a when the required number of sheets areY accumulated in the stack.

At about the timethat a full stack 9a. has been accumulated onthe plate I a previously formed'stack 9b on a vertically movable table or platform has been lowered to the position shown in Fig. 13 so asv to space said stackV 9b from the stack 9a. Since the stacked. material is formed from ancontinuousfweb, a fold or section I8 of the material extends diagonally between and connects.. said spaced stacks 9a andV 9b. A fold I9 on the top ofthe stack 9b is.' also caused to curve upwardly from saidv stack 9b approximately as represented in said Fig; 13. A blade orY plateI II is;` moved edgewise under.v the plate I5. so as to.; cause the sharpened'. front edge of the blade to enter between said spaced stacks 9a and 9b and as the leading edge of the blade Il approaches the far side of the stacks 9a and 9b it engages said connecting web section I8 and also moves downwardly a small distance to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13 to slightly compress the stack 8b. rI'he inward and downward movement of the sharp edged blade I'a in the manner indicated, tensions said connecting web section I8 and thereby effectively accomplishes breakage of the bonds which occur as shown in Fig. 20 at the leading edge of said plate I7 and at the edge 2I of the supporting plate I5. The stack d?) is thereby separated from the overlying, later formed stack 9a.

The separating blade I'I carries a depending pusher 22 on its lower side which comes into engagement with the stack h so that upon continuation of the movement of the member I'I beyond the stack Sa as represented in Fig. 14, the stack 9b will be advancedto a receivingtable structure 23.

During all of these operations the folding or interfolding` rolls I and 2 are continuing to deposit folded tissue material on top of the stack and above the counting-finger IS.4

From the position illustratedV in Fig. 14,the separating blade II with its stack pusher 22 is retracted to its starting position which is illustrated in Fig. 15. After the member I'I has been so retracted, the platform or table member 20 is automatically elevated to a position closely adjacent the bottom of the supporting plate I5 :.asshown in Fig. l5, whereupon the plate I5 is withdrawn in anendwise direction leaving the stack Sa on the table 2i] as shown in Fig. 16. This plate i5 is a thinand highly polished plate and it preferably extends through the entire length of the interfolded tissue stacks. A suitable stop is provided to prevent endwise movement of the stack with the plate i5 and such stack movement is further avoided by providing the plate with smooth highly polished surfaces and by the inertia of the tissue material overlying said plate I5.

`As interfolding of the tissue webs continues, the platform 20 and the counting finger I6 are automatically moved downwardly. The counting finger moves downwardly in conformity to the rate at which the thickness of the overlying stack Sc is built up and the platform 26, at'the proper time, is caused to move downwardly at a somewhat greater speed so that a gap 2t will be developed between the stacks 9a and 9c as represented in Fig. 17. When the gap 2li is wide enough, the previously withdrawn plate I5 is moved' endwise between the stacks Qa and 9c immediately under finger i6 as represented in Fig. 18. Thisplate I has its front end suitably shapedftoenable it to more or less plow its way between the stacks 9a and c, and the counting finger I6 is then withdrawn and moved upwardly so as to be in position for reinsertion above the next new stack Sc 'when it reaches full thickness so as to occupy the place of the. starting stack Y 9a as shown in Fig. 13. The counting nger I6 ated to start another cycle of operation. A stack 9d represented in Fig. 13 in position on the table 23 will, meanwhile, have been picked up and advanced by mechanism which breaks the double length stack into two sections and turns the sections to the endwise position represented in Fig. 24.

To attain the most eiicient operation of the interfolding mechanism, provision should be made to permit the top of the accumulating tissue stack to be adjusted toward and from the interfolding rolls without disturbing the operative relationship existing between said plate, blade, and tables. Unavoidable variations in the thickness, moisture content and other characteristics of the tissue material, and variations in atmospheric humidity, and perhaps other causes, aect the functioning of the high speed interfolding mechanism. Adverse effects of variations in these and other elements can often be counteracted by adjusting the top level of the accumulating stack toward or from the interfolding rolls. To facilitate such `adjustment while maintaining a xed relationship of the parts of the stack segregating mechanism, said mechanism is supported (see Figs. l, 2, 8 and 9) on an elongated base shelf v25 which is pivotally mounted at one end as indicated at 25, on a shaft 21 which is supported in brackets 28, the latter' being rigidly attached to the side frame members F of the apparatus. At its other end, the base shelf 25 is vertically adjustably supported by means of rollers 29 secured to said base shelf and projecting irto cam grooves 33 provided in a pair 0f segments 3l, 3| carried by a shaft 32 which is suitably journaled in bearings mounted on the fixed base B of the apparatus. These segments 3I are normally locked in fixed position by any suitable clamp means 32d which acts on a Xed quadrant 32h, said clamping device being carried by a hand adjusting lever 32o which is attached to said shaft 32. The cam groove 30 is so formed that by rocking the segments 3I the adjacent end of the base shelf will be adjusted up or down thereby correspondingly adjusting other elements of mechanism which are mounted on said base shelf. Because of the long lever-arm length of the pivoted base shelf, and the relatively small throw of the cam grooves 33, very accurate adjustment of the top level of the accumulating tissue stack can be very easily made. This adjusting mechanism may be automatically actuated as an incident to changes in the level of the top of the stack to which the material is delivered or as an incident to changes in the upward pressure of the top of the stack against a feeler member. Details of such automatic mechanism are not necessary to the operation of the described mechanism and are therefore not shown.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the receiving plate i5 is supported by means cf an end bracket having a vertical leg 33 and a horizontal leg 34 which is secured to a slide blofck 35. This slide block 35 has a pair of rollers 36 extending from its opposite sides as shown in Fig. 5, and these rollers are arranged to travel in track grooves 31 provided in the side members 38, 38 of an elongated housing structure within which there is mounted a hydraulic motor 39 (Fig. 3). This hydraulic motor 39 embodies a cylinder having suitable pressure uid connections 40 and 4i adjacent its opposite ends and la piston rod 42 which is adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly of the cylinder, said piston rod having a suitable piston attached thereto within the cylinder. The slide block 35 which carries the supporting plate I5 is mounted on the outer end of said piston rod 42 so that said slide block and supporting plate I5 are movable in an endwise direction incident to the delivery of pressure uid into the respec` tive ends of the cylinder 39 and relief of fluid from the respective opposite ends thereof.

'I'he cylinder housing including said side members 38 is vertically adjustably supported on a pair of rods 43, 43 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are vertically slidable in suitable guide members 44. The guide members 44 are iixedly attached to portions of the side frame structure F which are mounted on the stationary base structure B`. The vertically slidably mounted posts 43 are connected by means of links 45 to the free ends of arms 43 (see Figs. 8 and 9) which are secured at their other ends to a cross shaft 41 which is journaled in suitable bearing brackets mounted on the adjustable shelf 25. Another arm 43 is secured to said shaft 41 and has .its free end provided with a cam following roller 49 which operatively engages the cam surface of a rotary cam 59 carried by a cam shaft 5I which is suitably journaled on said bottom shelf 25. 'I'he cam 50 is shaped to cause the posts 43 and the structure supported thereon to move up and down as required to carry out the operations above described in connection with Figs. 13 to 20 irnclusive. The cam shaft 5I is continuously rotated by driving means which will presently be explained.

Reciprocation of the piston 42, and hence of the tissue receiving plate I5 is controlled by a four-way valve 52 (Fig. 8) which is mounted on the shelt 25 and connected by suitable conduits to the cylinder 39. The valve 52 is so arranged and so connected to the cylinder 39 and to a source of pressure iiuid that in one position of the core of the valve, fluid under pressure will be delivered through the port 40 into one end of the cylinder 39, thereby to effect withdrawal of the receiving plate I5 from the stack of tissues. In the other position of adjustments of the core of the Valve 52 pressure fluid will be admitted through the port 4I into the other end of the cylinder 39 thereby to effect endwise movement of the receiving plate I5 into operative position in the tissue stack. In these two positions of adjustment of the valve 52, when pressure iiuid is introduced into one end of the cylinder, the other end is connected through the valve to permit escape of the fluid from the lcylinder and return thereof to a receptacle from which it is pumped and delivered under pressure to the pressure side of the cylinder. The details of the valve 52 are well known and are not for that 'reason herein illustrated.

The valve 52 is actuated by the free end of a. lever arm 53 which is rockably mounted on a shaft 54 (Figs. 8 and 9) which is suitably supported on the shelf 25. Said lever arm 53 is extended as indicated at 55 beyond the shaft 54 and has its other end provided with a roller 56 which engages arotating cam 51 on said cam shaft 5I. The cam 51 is. of course, so formed as to actuate the valve 52 to control the delivery and relief of pressure fiuid to and from the cylinder 39 as required for the described operational movements of the receiving plate I5.

It will be observed from the foregoing explanation with reference to the mounting of the plate I5 that it is automatically moved up and down according to a predetermined pattern determined acre-,147

by the shape of the cam 50, and that it is moved endwise in and out with reference to the stack of tissues according to a predetermined pattern, as determined by the shape of the cam i. Also in the event that the base shelf 25 is adjusted up or down, the pivot shaft 41, the lever arms 48 and 46, the posts 43 and parts supported thereby will be correspondingly adjusted.

The elevator plate is. mounted on the upper ends of the side arms 58, 5B of a U-shaped bracket, the bottom member 59 of which bracket `is secured to a supporting plate 60. This supporting plate 60 is mounted on a plate-like post 5| which is vertically slidably mounted in a guide structure 52 (see also Fig. 8). The plate post 6I is disposed approximately centrally of the table 60 and suitable hollow posts 53, B3 are secured to and depend from opposite end portions of said table 60 and are telescoped over upstanding posts 64, 64 which are mounted on the pivoted base shelf 25. Suitable coil springs 55 disposed around the posts 64 and between base flanges on the lower ends thereof and the lower ends of said tubular post E3 serve to resiliently counter-balance the weight of the supporting plate 20, the U- shaped bracket part by which said plate is mounted on the table Bi, and said table 5D and other parts connected thereto. The tubular posts 63 are preferably rigidly interconnected by a cross bar 63a (Fig. 3).

Vertical movement is imparted to the plate post 6| and the parts connected thereto by means of a lever arm 68 (see Figs. 8 and 9), one end of which is rotatably mounted on the cross shaft 54 and the free end of which is forked and straddles a pin 61 projecting from a bracket or lug 68 rigid with the slide plate 6 i. As shown, the plate 6| is apertured as indicated at 54a (Fig. 3) to permit the lever arm 66 to pass therethrough into engagement with the pin 61.

The lever arm 56 is adjustably connected by a clamping bolt 59 to the slotted end 10 of a lever arm 1l which is rockably mounted on the said shaft 54. Said lever arm 1i has integrally connected thereto through a suitable hub, another arm 12 which has its free end provided with a cam following roller 13 which operatively engages the peripheral cam surface of a rotating cam 14 carried by the cam shaft 5I. The clampingl bolt and slot connection between the arms 1! and 66 permit a desirable amount of adjustment of the vertical position of the supporting plate 2i) for any given position of the cam 14. The supporting plate is moved up and down in a continuous cycle of movements by the action of the rotating cam 14 and this cam is suitably shaped to cause vertical movement, first, at the same speed downwardly as the overlying plate l5, later at an accelerated rate of speed, and then to return the plate to its elevated position, all in accordance with the foregoing explanation of operation in connection with Figs. 13 to 19 inclusive. Because of the counter-balanced arrangement of the supporting table 60, there is no heavy loadv placed upon the lever arm system 55, 1i and 12 and the cam 14 is easily capable of Vimparting smooth, vibrationless movement to said elevator plate 20 according to the pattern determined by said cam 14.

The vertically movable elevator plate 20 is of shorter length than the length of a double ortwin stack of tissues which approximately corresponds in length to the width of the table 23 (see Fig. 3). As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the elevator or platform 20 terminates short of the end of the tissue.

stack into which the plate l5l enters. By this arrangement, the end portion of the stack 9a (Figs. 17 and 18) over which the plate l5 enters the stack is permitted to sag downwardly from lthe bottom face of the overlying counting-lingersupported stack 9c thereby. to more or less open the end of the stack to further facilitate entrance of the receiving plate I5 into said stack. The receiving table 23 is extended as shown at 23a (Fig. 5) to underly said sagging end portion ofthe stack so as to receive said end portion when said platform 20 is lowered to coplanar relation to said table 23.

The counting iinger I6 is a relatively small, more or less triangular, plate element as best shown in Figs. 2 and 10, and it iscarried by one end of a rod 15 which has an end portion 16 bent to a perpendicular relationship to the fingercarrying portion 15. The laterally extending portion 15 of the rod is pivoted in a block member 11 which is horizontally slidably mounted on a suitable track 13. Suitable spring means 19 normally tends to rock said arm 15 and counting ringer i6 in an upward direction but such movement is limited by the engagement of a pin 8D with a cam track 8l which is flxedly mounted adjacent the path of reciprocation of said block '11. The pin 60 projects from an arm B2 which is secured to an extension of the rod part 16 through the block 11. A dip 83 in the cam track 8l permits the spring to eiiect upward rocking of said finger l@ almost immediately upon starting of the retractive (withdrawal) movement of the finger so that the nger will move outwardly Withf out any signiiicant drag on the stacked material.

The finger I6 is reciprocated in and out by means of a so-called recipromotor which is an electric solenoid device indicated at 84 (Fig. 2). Said solenoid device acts on an armature 85 which is pivotally connected as showny at B6 to the slide block 11. The recipromotor embodies oppositely acting coils which respectively cause the armature to move in an out to impart corresponding in and out movement to the counting finger I6. Outward movement or withdrawal of the counting finger is initiated by the closing of an electric switch 81 (Figs. 2 and 8), this switch being closed by a cam 88 on the cam shaft 5|. The switch 81 is held closed for only a moment or two which is sufficient to cause the counting ringer to be retracted. The switch 81 then opens leaving the counting finger in its retracted position. Inward movement of this counting finger is effected by closing another switch B9 (Fig. 2), this switch being controlled by suitable chain drive connections indicated at 90 and 9|, to one of the interfolding rolls whereby the r0- tating member 92 of said switch 89 will be rotated in exact predetermined relationship to the turns of the interfolding rolls. Hence, the switch 89 will be closed once for every predetermined number of turns of the interfolding roll; that is to say, once for each predetermined number of tissues folded by the interfolding mechanism. This switch B9, when closed, energizes the recipromotor 84 so as to cause insertion of the counting finger when the required number of folded sheets have been accumulated in a stack. Accurate sheet count in the stacks is thereby attained.

It may be observed that. withdrawal of the counting finger occurs as represented in Figs. 17, 18 and 19, sometime beforea full stackof folded sheets is accumulatedabove the supporting plate I5 so that return movement. of the counting finger must be delayed. This delay is effected by the control switch 99.

The function of this switch 89 could be performed by another switch similar to the switch 91 controlled by a cam on the cam shaft 5| but it would be much more diicult to insure accurate timing of the inward movement of the counting finger with reference to the number of sheets folded and accumulated in a stack. The arrangement shown is connected directly to the interfolding mechanism proper and provides a relatively simple and very accurate means for governing the action of the counting finger directly by the number of folded sheets turned out by the interfolding mechanism.

The recipromotor 84 and counting iinger I9 are also automatically lowered in predetermined rela-tion to the accumulation of folded tissues over the nger and elevated to starting position by cam and lever mechanism which will hereinafter .be described.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the interfolded sheets are delivered to the receiving plate between the vertically disposed guides 93 and 94 and between opposite rock arms 95 and 99. The rock arms 95 and 93 and the guides 93 and 99 are parts of the interfolding mechanism proper. The guides serve, of course, to position the stack on the plate l5 and to hold the stack against forward or rearward displacement while the rock arms 95 and 95 are provided at their upper ends with projecting fingers 91 which are alternately rocked into overlapping relationship to the front and rear margins of the stack of sheets. These fingers 91 are, in effect, packing fingers which press the stack of sheets downwardly into a compact stack on the plate l5. One or more stops such as indicated at 94a (Figs. 3 and l0) are adjustably mounted on certain of said guides 93 and/or 94 in position to engage the end of the stack of material deposited between said guides. Such stops serve to prevent the stacks from moving endwise with the plate |5 Ywhen this plate is withdrawn from under the successive stacks.

As shown in Fig. 4, there are a pair of rock s.

arms 95 (and 9S) rockably mounted at their lower ends in the side frame structure F, these yarms having their upper ends interconnected by a bar 99 which supports the ser-ies of the fingers 91. rIhe connecting cross bar 9B is located at such an elevation relative to the receiving table 23 that when the stack of tissues is fed from the table 29 to the table 23, said stack will pass under the cross bar 98.

The parting blade |1 is secured at its outer end to a member 99. This member 99 is of more or less T shape (see Figs. 5 and 6) having a hollow stem portion |99 and a crosshead |9|, the blade i1 being secured to said crosshead i9 At the ends of the crosshead portion |91, there are provided a pair of rollers' |92, |92 (see also Fig. 3) which ride on tracks |93, |93, the latter being stationarily mounted on a pair of crossbars |94 y which are carried by the upper ends of a pair of posts or brackets |95 which are, in turn, mounted on the pivoted base shelf 25. The free end of the hollow stem part |94 of said member .99 is connected to the free or outer end of a pisvton rod. |99 which projects out of one end of a hydraulic cylinder' |91 which has its opposite ends connected by suitable conduits such as indicated at |99, to a control valve (Fig. 8).

The control valve |99 is controlled by a rocking lever H9 and a cam on the cam shaft 5| in about the same manner that the valve 52 is controlled as hereinbefore explained. The valve |99 is similar to the valve 52 and is such that it permits pressure fluid to be delivered selectively into the opposite ends of the cylinder |91 while relieving fluid from the opposite end thereof. The cam is, of course, so for-med vas to cause delivery of pressure fluid into the opposite ends of the cylinder |91 to cause the piston rod |96 to transmit reciprocating movement to the member 99 and the parting plate I1 as required for the performance of the functions of the parting plate |1 as above explained, in connectionv with Figs. 13 to 19 inclusive.

It will be seen that when the parting plate |1 is advanced from its starting position as shown in Figs. 6 and 19, the rollers |92 will ride on the tracks |93. These tracks have a dip therein as shown in Figs. 6 and '1, intermediate their ends so that after the leading edge of the plate |1 has been advanced about half-way through the transverse Width of the tissue stack as shown in full lines in Fig. 13, the rollers |92 will move downwardly into the recessed portion of the tracks thereby causing the leading end portion of the plate |1 to rock downwardly to a lower position as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 13. This action permitsv the plate l1 to be advanced over a portion of the width of the underlying stack of tissues free of contact therewith even though the height of the stack may vary somewhat due usually to variations in the characteristics of the tissue material. It has been found that after a sufficient area of the stack is engaged by the under surface of the plate I1 its further transverse movement may be effected without any tendency to shift or distort the stack before it is engaged by the pusher 22. This downward movement of the plate |1 effects slight compression of the underlying stack of tissues whereby the stack is firmed up to a slight and desirable extent.

When the stack 9b approaches its delivered position as shown in Fig. 14, the blade |1 is again elevated to free the plate |1 from the stack so that the initial portion of the return movement of the plate |1 is effected substantially free of or with only slight contact with the top of the stack such as 9b which has just been advanced to the receiving table 23.

To permit the plate |1 and mounting member 99 to rock as already explained, the connection of the member 99 to the piston rod |99 is effected through the agency of a block I2 (Fig. 6) which is fixed on the end of the piston rod and which fits in a slot in the end portion of said stem |09 and is pivoted thereto as indicatedat ||3. The member 99 and plate |1 rock up and down on the pivot I9 so as to avoid any shifting or distortion of the piston rod |96.

For advancing the stack 9d of tissues from the position thereof on the table 23 as shown in Fig. 13, when the stack 9b is to be delivered to said table, there is provided in association with the parting blade structure |1 a pair of feed fingers H4, H4 (see Figs. 5, 6, 3 and 13), these fingers being carried by the leading ends of rods ||5 which are anchored to the crosshead portion |9| of the member 99. The fingers ||4 are pivoted as indicated at IB in blocks or heads fastened on the free end portions of the rods ||5, the arrangement being such that on forward or feeding movement of the fingers ||4 from the full line position shown in Fig. 6 to the advanced dotted line position shown therein, said fingers are supported against rearward rocking movement.

1.1. However, upon return movement fo'f :the frods f||5 and `said fingers H4, said 'fingers may rock forwardly so as to pass under Ythe stackiSb (Fig. 14) of tissues which will havebeen delivered to the table A23 behind the said fingers. The table 23 is slotted as indicated at to permit the described travel of the feeding ngers H4. 'The .fingers `Htl and rods H rock up and down with 4the parting plate, this being without objection inasmuch as the stack of tissues will lie-effectively advanced even though the lngers |1|4 engage only a portion'ofthe vertical depth of the stack. When the feed fingers .H4 and the plate reach their most Vadvanced position as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 6, they will fhave been elevated from their 'lowermost position by the forward lobe or rise `of the cam track |03. Most of the pressure of the plate ||4on the tissue stack underlying the plate portion in front 'of vthe lpusher 22 `will be relieved by said upward movement of the plate as it approaches its `advanced position. However, tissue such as em- 'ployed in making facial tissue, -when stacked, produces a resiliently compressible stackand the vstack has a tendency to expand so as to maintain -light contact Vwith the forward vportion of said plate even though it is elevated.

To make surevthat the tissue stack Vwill not be pulled or distorted rearwardly as an incident to retraction of the plate l1, there is provided a pairvof stack compression members or hold-down shoes l inthe form offspring shoes (Figs. 5 and 6). These spring shoes preferably have a suit able friction lining on their lower legs for engagement with the tissue stack and lthey are mounted on a cross bar I9 Vwhich is carried by the free ends of a pairof `arms which are pivoted as indicated at |2| on suitable brackets |22 mounted on the opposite side portions of the table '23.

The hold-down shoes ||8 are rocked downwardly by a cam and 'linkage arrangement as best shown in Figs. l and 10. YAs there shown, oneof the rock arms |20 is extended beyond its `pivot 2| and connected at its free endsas indicated at v|23 Ato the upper end of an adjustable lengthlink |24, the lower end of which is connected to the free Aend of the arm |25 of a bell crank which is pivoted as indicated at ,|26 on a suitable, fixed bracket arm carried by a part of the main framestructure. The other arm |21 of said bell crank has its free end provided with a roller |28 which engages a rotating cam l|23 carried by a cross shaft |30 which is journaled in suitable bearingsmounted on portions of the side frames F or 'brackets attached thereto. The cam |23 is so formed androtated that the spring shoes H8 will,in properly synchronized relation to the movement of the plate periodical- Lly belowered into engagement with tissue stacks to slightly compress the fsame, thereby to prevent their following the parting plate when the latter starts its return movement.

The cam shaft Y|30 is suitably driven, Lfor example, by a chain drive |-3| from an electric motor |32. This motor |32 also operates through a chainrdrive indicated at |33 (Figs. l and 2) to vdrivera Vshaft |34 which is journaled in the stationary frame vstrucure F. Said shaft |34 is disposed approximately in the vertical plane of the .cam shaft 5| and is connected thereto (see Fig. '5) Athrough the agencycfa sun gear |35, and arm |36, a double sun'pinion gear |31, |38, a sun gear |39, and an arm |40. l

'The sun gears |35 and |39 are secured rigidly to the 'shafts |34 and I5| respectively, Ybut 'they are separate from each other and-do notcccupy aco-axial relationship, the axis vofthedrive shaft |34 being lower than the axis of the cam shaft 5|. The'arms |36 and |40 are respectively journaled on the shafts 34 and 5| and thepinion gear l|31, |38 is rotatably mounted on a shaft journaled in theouter end portions of said farm |36 and |40. vThe sun vgears |31 and |38 are integrally or rigidly interconnected. "This arrangement maintainsa constant'driving connection between the shafts `|3|| and 5| while permitting the shaft 5|, to move up kor `down relative to the shaft .|34 as an incident to vertical v.adjustment of the pivoted bottomfshelf 25 on which said'cam shaft 5I is fjournalled; The shaft :|34 is journaled with its axis below the lowest Aposition which can be assumed by the cam shaft l15| so that theseshafts can never assume a vcri-.axial relationship. Under these circumstances, the arm |36 will incline upwardly from the shaft :|34 whereas lthe arm :|40 will incline downwardly from the shaft V5| `so 'that they lock one another against rotation about the :shafts |34andi5| lrespectively, the pinion gears |31, .|38 being thereby,`inveffect, held against rotation'about the Vaxis of said shafts |34 and 5|. Hence, rotation .of the gear |35 will be transmitted through .the pinion gears |37, |33 to the gear r| 3.9 andshaft r5| in various positions of'vertical adjustment of the shaft 5| relative tothe vdrive shaft |34.

Vertical movement of .the counting finger is controlled by a rotarycam |41 (Fig. 1) 'Which'is secured to the drive shaft `|34 and `vthis cam acts on a roller rH12 .carried by the free end of an arm |43 of a bell crank which is .pivoted-as indicated at |44, on the main frame structure (see :also Figs. 3, 5 and 8). The other arm |145 (Fig. l) of said bell crank is connected by'means :of Aa :fsuitable link |46 to the `lower inwardly offset end portion '|41 (Fig. `3) ofa 'square' bar |48 which is vertically slidablyA and .non-rotatably mounted in a guide |49 Von the outside of one ;of Vthe side frames F.

An angle iron shelf or platform .structure `|50 (Fig. 1) is rigidly attached to the upperend v.of said bar '|48 and said platform A,|50 supports :the recipromotor 34, and :parts zactuated `thereby includingsaid counting finger |;6,ffor vertical movement as required for thefuncticninggof the counting'nger asalready explained. Vertical-movement `of these parts is, of course,vgoverned byappropriately shaping :the active surface of the cam |4| to impart the desired up and down movement to ,said lcounting nger fl-S. The Awithdrawal of thecounting finger from the Y'stack of tissues occurs when the counting gngerreaches a .predetermined lower limit gof movement :but ,inward movement lof :the counting Yfingersmay occur at va time interval somew-hatiafter the finger is returned to its uppermostposition. Thecam |43 V.is accordingly shaped to `provide aperiod of `'rest to hold the finger in .its :elevated but retracted position v awaiting. closingV of* the .switch 89 A,to cause the counting finger to be introduced into the vstack tomark the beginning of a `new stack of andrl'b in Fig. i24. From the v.angularly, up-

wardly extending slotted'portion v231: of the table.

the tissue stacks are carried along an upwardly inclined path in continuation of the inclination of said slotted table portion so as to ultimately deliver the stacks at a predetermined elevation above the conveyor I2 (Figs. 1 and 2) thereby to permit dropping of the stacks on gate mechanisms |5| in overlying relation to the conveyor I 2. The tissue stacks deposited. on the gate pairs I5| may successively be dropped into the pockets or carriers II on the conveyor I2 by opening the gates |5I. Suitable mechanism is provided for automatically opening the gates in timed relation to the travel of the pockets so that the tissue stacks will fall into the conveyor pockets. This mechanism is not a part of the present invention and, therefore, will not be described in detail. It will, however, be observed that the gate structure |5| is at a substantial elevation above the plane of the table 23 wherefor the tissue stacks are carried along an upwardly inclined path of travel as already referred to.

When a stack of tissues reaches the slotted table portion 23h, pressure devices or holding bars |52 (Figs. 4 and 11) are lowered into engagement with the top surface of the stack to slightly compress the stack and temporarily hold it in place on the slotted table portion. The pressure members |52 are of narrow elongated form extending transversely of and carried by a cross shaft |53 which is fixedly mounted in the ends of a pair of rock arms I 54 and |55 (see also Fig. These rock arms are pivoted at their other ends by means of shafts |56 on suitable bracket arms |51 which extend upwardly from the pivoted bottom shelf 25 as indicated in Fig. 4. rlhe arms |54 and |55 together with the holding members |52 are adapted to be rocked so as to move the holding members toward and from the tissue stack. For imparting the required rocking movement to said holding members |52, the pivot shaft |56 for the arm I55 has secured to it a lever I 58 (Figs. 1 and 2) which extends downwardly and is provided at its free end with a roller |59 for engaging the peripheral cam surface of a rotary cam |60. This cam |60 is secured to the driven cross shaft |36. The pressure members |52 are vertically aligned with the finger-like portions of the slotted table and portion 23h as shown in Fig. 11 so that the tissue stack will be effectively compressed when said pressure meinbers are lowered.

Tissue material when interfolded into stacks as herein described, tends to dip in the center because of the folding at the edges, the folds being of more or less round character rather than sharp creases so that when the tissue is unfolded for use it will be free of any hard foldline. Because of this characteristic of a tissue stack (o-r possibly because of some other reason) the leading edges of the top sheet or sheets, tend to curl back on the stack. To prevent such curling before the holding members |52 engage the stack, there are provided a plurality of wiping rolls |6I (Figs. 4 and l0) disposed at suitable intervals across the apparatus, these wiping rolls being rocked forwardly to roll out the leading edge portions of the stacked sheets. These wiping rolls I6! are carried by arms |62 which extend from a shaft |63 which is suitably journaled as indicated at |64 on the rock arms |55 and |55. figures, the wiping rolls I6! are illustrated in their advanced position.

For rocking the shaft |63 and the wiping rolls |6, an arm |64 which is secured to the shaft I 63, is connected to one end of a link I 65 (see In these Fig. 4), the other end of said link being con-v nected to the upper end of a bell crank arm |66. The bell crank comprising the arm |66 and another arm |61, is pivotally mounted as indicated at |68 on a post |59 which is pivotally supported at its lower end on the pivot shaft 21 (See Fig. 1). Said post I 69 is one of a pair of such posts which serve to support other elements which will presently be referred to. The bell crank arm |61 has a roller at its free end (Fig. 4) for operatively engaging a rotary cam |16 on the shaft |30, whereby said bell crank is rocked. The link is of considerable length as compared with the length. of the rock arms |54 and |55 so that the movement of the shaft |63 about the pivot axis of the arms I5@ and I 55 does not significantly eifect the movement imparted to the rollers |6| by the described cam actuated bell crank and link connections. In any event, the extent of movement of the wiping rollers I6| is not critical and requires no highly accurate setting of the starting and stopping positions thereof.

For gripping the two sections of the table stack of tissues which are clamped by the pressure members |52 against the slotted portion 23h of the table, there are provided two gripping devices designated in their enti-reties by the reference numerals |1|a and |1|b (Figs. 2 and 4), these devices being alike except that they are made right and left-hand. The following explanation of the structure and operation of the gripper Illa will therefore be understood as being also applicable to the gripper l? lb with proper regard for the fact that one is of the opposite hand relative to the oth r. These jaw structures are moved laterally along an inclined plane so that they are operative to grip tissue stacks clamped by the members |52 on the slotted table portion 23h and carry the stacks upwardly toward the gate structure |5I.

The gripping devices each comprise (Figs. 4 and l1) an upper jaw |12 and a lower jaw |13. The upper jaw |12 is of slotted plate-like form so as to provide fingers which may be moved into straddling relationship to the pressure members |52 (as indicated in Fig. 10) when the pressure members |52 are in their stack clamping position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

-The jaw members |12 and |13 have hubs |14 and |15 (Fig. 11) respectively, which are secured to a sleeve |16 and this sleeve |16 is rotatably supported on a tubular post |11 which is anchored in a slide plate |18. As shown in Fig. 11, the tubular post |11 is clamped in place by means of a nut |19 which is screwed on the lower end of the post below the plate |18 and a shoulder |39 formed on the post for engagement with the upper face of said plate. The clamping jaw structure comprising the upper and lower jaws |12 and |13 is rotatable as a unit about the post |11 and also movable laterally so as to advance the gripped stacks of tissues from the table 23 to another guide table over which the stacks are fed in an endwise direction into said gate means |5| for depositing the stacks one by one on the conveyor I2 The slide plate H6 is provided with a pair of depending lugs on each side near its front and rear ends, and suitable rollers |8| (see Figs. 4.11 and l2) are mounted on these lugs in axially horizontal positions. These rollers |6| ride in tracks I 62, |82 (Fig. l1) which are elongated in the direction of travel of the jaws. These tracks |82 are fixedly mounted on the opposite upstanding side portions of a U-shaped cradle or bed acme/47 structure |83, `which is supported near one end by supporting posts |84, 283 from the pivoted base shelf 25, and at its other end by the beforementioned supporting posts |89 (Fig. l). The posts |09 are connected to the cradle structure |83 through the agency cf plates |85 which depend from the upper portions or the posts |09 into engagement and attachment `with said bed structure |83.

The slide plate |18 supports both jaw pairs as best shown in Fig. l1, so that when the plate |18 is moved lengthwise along he tracks |02 both jaw pairs will be simultaneously advanced.

Movement is imparted to the slide plate |18 by means or a hydraulic cylinder |35 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which is suitably supported by the plates |85 through the agency of such brackets as may be desired for that purpose. A piston rod |81 eX- tending Vfrom said cylinder |36 is anchored at its outer or free end as indicated at |03, to a lug |89 which is part of a member |90 (Figs. l1 and l2) which is Xedly secured to the slide plate.

The admission and release of pressure fluid from the opposite ends of the cylinder |86 to reciprocate the piston |81 and the slide plate |18 are controlled by a suitable valve (Figs. S and 9) which is actuated by a rotary cam |32 on the driven shaft |30. The cam |02 is, of course, so shaped as to adjust the valve as may be required to effect the desired reciprocation of the piston |81-and parts actuated thereby.

The lower clamping jaw |13 is normally resiliently urged upwardly toward the overlying jaw |12 by means of a coiled compression spring |93 (Fig. ll). The spring |93 is housed within the post V51 and is compressed between the bottom of the fastening nut |19 and the inner end of a collar |34. The collar |90 bears against the retaining cup |95 of an anti-friction bearing |95 and the upper portion of this cup bears against the lower side or inner end of a cap |91 which is inserted in and secured to the jaw |13.

rIhe jaw |13 is initially held down or in open position with reference to the overlying jaw |12 through the agency of a rod |98 which has its upper end anchored through the agency of said anti-friction bearing |96 to the jaw |93. The lower end of said post |98 is slidable through a Aslot :|99 in a plate 200 and the lower end of said Vpost |98 is provided with a roller y20| which bears against the bottom of said plate 209. The plate -200 (see Figs. 4 and 1l) is pivoted as indicated at 202 between a pair of lugs 203 which depend from said slide plate |18 and said plate 200 is provided with a roller 204 which engages the under side 'of a longitudinally extendingrbar 205. This bar 205 is mounted for up and down movement so `that upon downward movement of the bar it will :act through theroller 204 to swing the free end of the plate 200 downwardly, thereby to act through the roller 20| and the rod |98 to puli the lower jaw member |13 downwardly or into open position relative to the overlying jaw plate VS2.

The jaw opening bar 205 is provided adjacent its opposite ends with depending posts 208 which have their lower ends provided with transversely extending bearing bosses 201. The bosses 201 are disposed intermediate pairs of arms 208 and 209 (Fig. 4) and these arm pairs are pivotally mounted as indicated at 2 l0 and 2| respectively on the bed structure |83.

The pairs of arms 208 and 209 are interconnected for simultaneous rocking movement so 'that the control-bar 205 will be moved up and down uniformly throughout its length. The

means for interconnecting said arm pairs 208=and 209 comprises a pair of links 2|2 and 2|3 which respectively have their outer ends pivoted to one of the arms of the pairs 208 and 209 and their inner or adjacent ends pivotally interconnected and pivotally secured as indicated at 2M, to a rock arm 2|5. This rock arm 2|5 is pivoted for rocking movement on the under side of the bed structure |33 and has its lower or free end provided with a roller for operative engagement with a rotary cam 2|8 which is carried by the driven shaft |30.

After a stack of tissues is delivered into inclined position on the fingered or slotted portion 23D of the receiving table 23, the pairs of .jaw structures' move downwardly or toward the right (in Fig. V4) until the upper and lower jaws are disposed above and below the tissue stacks. The are, of course, in open position when they move 'into initial stack embracing position; they are shown `in closed or stack clamping position in Figs. i and ll. The cam 2i8 then permits a spring 2|1 (Fig. 4.) to rock the arms 208 and 203 so as yto cause the jaw control bar 205 to move upwardly, thereby permitting the springs |33 (Fig. ll) of the jaw structures to move the lower jaws |13 upwardly to raise the tissue stacks from the slotted table portion 23hinto clamping engagement with the respective overlying jaws |12.

As gripping of the tissue stacks is eliected, the valve I9! (Figs. 8 and 9) is actuated to initiate forward and upward movement of the jaws, the jaws are turned about the axes of their mounting posts |11 to eiect separation of the double tissue stack into twoseparate stacks and to turn the separate stacks through oppositely directed arcs or 90, thereby to position the separate stacks for endwise travel along parallel but spaced paths of travel.

The mechanism for 'eiecting turning of the jaws as an incident to their forward movement comprises (Figs. ll and l2) a gear 2 i8 formed onY or secured to the lower end of the jaw mounting sleeve l, this gear being engaged by a rack 239 which is slidable on the slide plate |13. rThe rack 2 i9 is guided at one side by a guideway 220 formed on the adjacent side of the member Yist and at the other side by a shoulder of the slide plate H8 as will best be understood by inspection of Fig. l2. The rack bar 2|9 is connected by means of a link 22| to the free end of one arm 222 of Va'bell crank which is pivoted as indicated at 223 on an ear or lug extending from the slide plate |18. The other arm 228 of said bell crank is offset downwardly and is provided with a depending roller 225 which rides in a camtrack 223 which is provided in a normally iixed track bar 221 Vwhich is mounted on said cradle member its.

By reference to Fig. 12,4 it will be seen that as the slide plate |18 moves endwise toward the left, the cam track 220 will act on the roller 225 to Vrock the bell crank arms 22d and 222 shown in full lines in Fig. l2, in a clockwise direction there- `by to advance the lrack 2|9 relative to the Vslide plate. The gear 2 i3 shown in full lines, is thereby rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig, 12. Both pairs of stack gripping jaws are rotated from the transversely extending starting position as shown in full lines in Fig. l0, to angular position indicated at A in Fig. 19 vand ultimately tothe parallel lengthwise extending position indicated at L in said Fig.V l0. This turning movement `is restricted or is not effected during the initial portion of the `lateral movement of the Vjaws so as to permit the upstanding clamping pins 

